Kite



R. P. HLLAND, JR

July 31, 1951 KITE 2 sheezssheet 1/ Filed Oct. 18, l48

@www P #ou/wvo Jie July 31, 1951 R. P.- HOLLAND, JR' v 2,562,789

KITE

Filed 001;. 18, i948 2' Sheets-Sheet 2,

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ATTORNEY5 www Patented July i 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KITERaymond P. Holland, J r.,.Roswe ll, N.I Mex.

Allplicatill octbel' 18, 1948, Serial N0. 55,116

19 Claims. (C1. 244-153) stacked relationship on a single ground cord, f

contrasting with conventional use of a plurality of ground cordsbranching out from a single cord held by the operator.

It is a primary object'of this invention to a ply modern principles ofaerodynamics to kite design and thereby produce a kite of greater flightstability and lift, and greater maneuverability.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kite from which otherkites may be flown .to

achieve multiple flying.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kite which has novelfeatures of design permitting easy foolproof assembly of the kite insuch manner that the require delicate balances of the structural membersof the kite are attained. Another object of this invention is to providea kite having a novel tail structure which is readily adjustable toattain maximum flying performance vunder various wind conditions.

Still another object of this invention is toprovide a kite ofinexpensive construction which .is easy to manufacture in quantity.

With these and other objects in View the accompanying drawings anddetailed description of the invention are set forth for the purpose-offully explaining the various features comprising the invention and, arenot to be regarded as limiting the scope and spirit of the inventionexcept as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the assembled kite of this inventionshowing the tail attached;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the kite viewed alongthe central axis thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the kite taken along thellines 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section of the kite taken along thelines 4-4 of Figure `1; v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section of the kite showing a furtherembodiment of string aperture in the kite wingreceivng the attachingcord of the next higher kite in a series ofl kites in multiple flight; ii f ci f Figure 6 is a. fragmentary 1 perspective view showing how theends of the sticks forming the wing edges are joined at the outer tipsand at the rear of the wing; v

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the body member of the kite showingthe details of one type of construction of the nose piece and tail piecein assembly;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the kite body structure asmodified for factory assembly; -L Figure 9 shows a plurality of kitesbeing flow from one ground cord to accomplish multiple flying, andFigure l0 is a detailed view of the bridle. f Y A' L .i

In its broadest concept this invention embodies a kite of aerodynamicproficiency having a single long narrow wing or lifting surface whichismounted on a kite body member formed of novel tail and Vnose piececonstructions, and having a bridle provided with an attachment forreceiving a ground cord. f Means are provided for forming a dihedralwing provided with a reinforced slit in the surface thereof throughwhich the flying or ground cord may be extended for attachment withanother higher flying kite. It is contemplated that several kites may beflown from one ground cord by attaching the flying cord of one kite tothe bridle of a second kite beneath the rst. Unique means alsoare'provided for removablyV connecting the tail piece to the nose piece,and further means are provided for effecting a secondary balance in thekite through an adjustable ballast bag attached to a cord on the end ofthe tail extension.

Referring in particular to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 thekite of this invention having a single lifting surface or wing I0mounted beneath a body member generally designated as I I. The member II is comprised of a nose piece I2 and a tail piece I3. A leader stringI4 is attached to the tail piece of the kite, and a ballast bag I5 isvattached to the end of the string. Drawstrings I6 v are provided forclosing the mouth of the-bag and for attachment to the string I4. Astreamer I1 may be provided extending to the rear of the ballast bag,said members being provided for purposes to be described.

The characteristic rigidity of the wing structure is an important factorin the successful operation ofthe kite. In addition a sturdywingconstruction is -provided whichdoes not deflect under torsion and strainincident to flight in strong winds to any degree. VIn accordance withthepresent invention', thexlifting surface or Wing I0 is composedof twotriangular panels I0 of equal size positioned on each side of the bodymember I I, the panels forming a diamond shaped flight surfaceconverging to small outer wing tips I8. Relatively rigid structuralmembers I9, which may be formed conveniently of wood, metal or plastic,outline the leading edges of the wing panels, as shown generally inFigure 3, and similar members shown as sticks outline the trailing edgesof the panels. A flexible joint 2| joins the adjacent ends of the sticks29 forming the trailing edges of the panels, where the edges meet at therear of the lifting surface. A similar flexible joint 22 is provided tosecure the outer ends of Y the sticks I9 and 20 joining at the tips I8of the wing panels. As shown in detail in Figure 6 these joints 2l and22 may be formed of such materials as flexible rubber or plastic tubing23, formed with open ends receiving and firmly securing the adjacentends of the sticks I9 and 20.

A sheet of paper or other wing covering material 24 is cut to theproper'shape and folded over the leading and trailing sticks I9 and 20forming the frame. The free edges of the paper 24 may be glued inposition on the frame, secured with adhesive tape, or secured in someother convenient way. An arcuate opening 25 is formed in the covering 24at the rear of the lifting surface to permit binding of said covering 24cleanly to the frame, and to provide access at this point to the bodymember for purposes to be described. It will be noted that the joints 2|and 22 employed in joining the frame sticks should preferably be formedso that they are flexed inwardly slightly in forming the frame, thussetting vup a force tending to expand the cover 24 forming the liftingsurface out to full, taut dimension at all times.

The leading edges I9 of the wing I0 are joined .in the front by a uniquemember which permits folding of the wing for packaging or when not in iuse, and ready assembly of the kite for flying. Figure 3 shows fragmentsof the right and left leading edge sticks i9. A match angled member 26is bound or otherwise secured to the inner end of each stick I9. Thecover paper 24 loosely retains the match angles and the two leading edgesticks I9 in adjacent relationship. The wing covering material 24 maypreferably be cut back at this point at 28 to allow the upturned ends28a of the match angles 2B to protrude above the plane of the covering24. It-Will be noted that the match angles are bent at such an anglethat when the upturned ends 26a are brought together, the tips I8 of thewing II)v are raised to impart the desired dihedral conformation to theWing.

As shown by the dotted lines near the body member in Figure 1, specialprovision is made in the wing to permit a flying cord to pass throughthe wing cover for attachment of a second kite to the rst kite, flyingone kite above another. Figvure 4 shows one embodiment of thisconstruction including as the main elements the tail piece I3 with thewing I0 disposed below it. The central portion of the wing cover 24 'iscut lengthvviseto form a slit 29, extending longitudinally of the.:

cover for sufficient lengthso that fore and aft movement of a kiteflying above the kite shown Will not affect the longitudinal stabilityand balance of the lower kite to which it is attached. A

reinforcement for the cover 24 adjacent the slit 29 .12.

of relatively stiff tapel3l von the undersurface of the cover havingdepending-.parallel projections Sla, which minimize the Wind leakagethrough the slit 29.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of this feature of the invention,wherein reinforcing sealing members 32 are affixed to the edges of theslit 29 on opposite sides of the cover 24. The members 32 normallyoverlap to seal the slit 29, preventing the passage of air through theslit 29. When a string forming an attachment for an overhead kite ispassed through the slit, however, the overlapping members 32 are forcedback as shown, to receive the string indicated as 46. At other pointsalong the slit 29, the edges 32 remain in overlapping relationship,thereby minimizing the size of the aperture 29 in the flight surface ofthe wing. Other means such as straps or groups of cord slung beneath theslit are contemplated for protecting and covering the slit 29.

The preferred construction of the body member ofthe kite is disclosed indetail in Figure 7. The tail piece I3 may be formed as a stick of wood,plastic or other suitable material of sufficient length vto impart adefinite leverage to the lifting .surface of thekite throughl the actionof the ballast bag I5. The nose piece I2 is formed as a flat piece .oflight woodhaving anal-row. slot 33 at its rear end opening into awiderslot 34 defined by squared shoulders 350il the nosepiecc I2. Anarrow slot 36 extends further up along the nose piece so that thenosepiece is capable of exerting a clamping action on the front end ofthe tail piece I3 when insertedin the slot 34. l The tail piece I3 isassembled withthenose piece I2 by forcing the forward end of the tailpiece home in the slot 34. The positive clamping action of the nosepiecemay be reinforced by binding the shoulders 3,4 of the nosepiece togetherwith a rubber band 31 or other convenient means securing the tail piecepositively in position. Where a permanent assembly of the nosepiece andtail piece is desired the tail piece I3 may be glued in the slot 34, inwhich case the narrow slots 33 and 36 may be dispensed .with in aconstruction to be described more in detail.

A transverse aperture 38 is cut into the nose piece I3 between the slots33 and 36 to receive the upper ends of the match angles 26 on the sticksI9 forming the leading edge o f the wing. In Figure 3 ,the match angles26 are passed through theaperturel 38 and then bound as by a rubber band39 to raise Vthe wing tips to a desireddihedral flight position. It willbe noted that the correct `dihedral angle is achieved automatically bythe use of the match angle construction at the centerline point of thewing sticks. When the .rubber band 39 is in place, the diameter of thebinding assembly is somewhat larger than the aperture 38, and thussecures the sticks `Illin place on the front piece I2.y The rearwardpartv of the wing I0 is secured to the tail piece I3 at the rear joint2I of the wing sticksy20 in such manner that the wing IU is hinged atthis', point to swing freely rearwardly beneath the body member IIwhenvthe wing is not attached to the front piece I2, a preferred hingeconstruction being described hereinafter.

, In the construction. off-kites according to this invention, the centerofv gravity of the kite is determined by the degree of forward extensionof 'the nosepiece I2 relative to the` length of the Vtail piece I3 thecenter of gravity of the kite being determined withvthe tail cordremoved. 'I'he forwardly .extending nose piece I2 protruding Well beyondthe Wing I0, is an. essential factor relative .to theimproved`performance of the kite,

aces-,278e

for the overall design necessitates that the center of gravity,exclusive of the ballast bag, be l0- cated forward at least .to theregion of the center point of the wing III. As normally constructed, thekite of this invention is .formed with the tail piece I3 preferablyextending approximately twice the width of the center .of the liftingsurface or wing I0 to the rear of the lifting surface. It is importantthat the nose piece I2 then `be formed to bring the enter of gravity ofthe kite forward at least to the region of the middle of the liftingsurface or wing I0. For this reason, it is preferred to construct thenose piece I2` after the other details of construction have been workedout, to .ensure that the nose piece is formed in length meeting thebalance requirements of the kite.

mensions so that a fiying cord will .exert pull on the kite at theproper angle when attachedv to the bridle. Thus the critical balanceAfactOrs of the bridle 4I) as well as the kite body member and liftingsurface or wing II), without which stable fiight is impossible, areinherent throughout the construction. The forward end of the :bridle isprovided with a loop 4I which is fitted over the match angles 26 beforethe wing Ill is attached to the nose piece I2, assisting the cover 24 inretaining the match angles together at the base. A fixed flying cordattachment 42 is placed on the bridle 40 at a point which is forward ofthe perpendicular through the center of gravityof the kite, therebyensuring that the fiying cord always will be secured in the properposition on the bridle. The bridle 40 is secured to the tail piece I3 at43 and two free ends 44 of the bridle string may be used conveniently tobind the rear of the wing I0 to the tail piece I3, forming the desiredwing hinge point mentioned previously. The hinge is formed convenientlyby crossing the string ends 44 over the body member and knotting, asshown in Figure l. A ground cord 45 Vis tied to the bridle attachment42.

A sliding ring 42rd which may be formed of wire, rubber or othermaterial may be positioned around the bridle 4I) and the attachment 42.The ring 42a improves the ease of launching of the kite, as well as theflight characteristics at high elevations. As shown in Figure l0, withthe ring 42a. in forward position as shown by the solid lines, theground cord 45 angles well forward. As the kite ascends the cord 45angles more to the perpendicular, the string tension on the ring 42amoves the ring rearward to the dotted line position, therebyautomatically adjusting lthe position of attachment of the cord 45 tothe bridle 40 to the most favorable position for the characteristic offiight of the kite. The ring 42a should be of restricted diameterfitting snugly over the bridle and attachment so as to move only undertension exerted thereon by the ground cord.

In the multiple flying of kites, a second -fiying cord 46 is tied to thebridle 4I)1 of the first kite at the attachment 42 and passed upwardthrough the slit 29 in the wing I0 of the first kite for attachment tothe bridle. of a second kite`fiying at a higher altitude, as shown'inFigure 9. In

y this way practically all forces exerted by the cord -46 are absorbedby the ground cord 45, preventing disturbance of the Vflight performanceofthe lower kite. It is to be noted that the flying cord f Yas during alull in the wind, the tension in the kflying string also lessens, thepitching restraint .46 of the higher kite usuallyv is pitched at .asteeper angle to the perpendicular for it is able to exert more liftsince the upper kite has less flying cord length to carry. Thus, itispossible to fiyl the upper kites of a fiight series out of sight byStringing up or stackingthe kites in this manner. Also a great deal oflifting power can be generated which would be useful in the carrying ofscientic instruments, for the added kites increase the preponderance oflift over drag.

The kite of this invention is constructedso that it may be folded into asmall bundle when not in use and rapidly assembled for fiight in asimple operation. To fold the kite, the rubber band 39 is removed fromthe match angles 26 in the nose piece I2 and the match angles are pushedout of the nose piece aperture 3B. The tips of the wing III are foldeddownwardly under.- neath the body member II in contact with one anotherand the entire wing III swung on its rear hinge 44 up under the tailpiece I3. The leading edges I9 of the wing I0 are then pressed upagainst the trailing edges 20 with the cover paper 24 folded to one sideto prevent undue creasing. The nose piece I2 is removed from the tailpiece I3, placed beside the tail piece, and the whole assembly includingthe ballast bag and bridle, is wrapped up and secured with the tail cordrI4 in a slender bundle.

Another body member I I construction is shown in Figure 8, which permitsfolding of the body structure of the kite into a short bundle withoutdisassembly. In this embodiment, the tail piece I3 is cut into two partsat 4I just behind the usual point of attachment of the rear part of thewing I0. Match angles 48 are secured to the adjacent I y I3 is folded upagainst .the nose piece I2. l

The trailing tail I5 of the kite comprises one adjustable feature of theassembled kite which functions in a different way from that on aconventional kite. Normally the equilibrium in pitch of conventionalkites is secured by the bridle and the tension in the iiying string,which create a stable system in opposition to the aerodynamic forces.When these aerodynamic lforces lessen ward relative to the liftingsurface area or the kite will dip its nose and glide forward slackingthe flying string, perhaps circling as it glides,

with the consequence that a resumption of wind will find the kitedivorced from the string action,

' and unlikely to regain steady flight as a rkite-- neither may thecenter of gravity be too far aft, for then in spite of the normalrestraint of the `bridle the kite will oscillate nose up and nose f downin gusty air as it seeks to move as a free dynamic body, pivoting aboutits center.V of

The rearward center of gravity isv especially troublesome inl itsdirectional and lateral-effects for the reason that no restrainingbridle exists inthese planes. `The conventional kite shows `this when onthe verge of instability by swinging and rocking pendulum fashion. Thenext step in the developmentof itsV .instability is lateralautorotation.

These instabilities are dynamic in origin, and damping is needed toovercome them. In the conventional kite, the damping is provided bymeans of a rag tail attached to the lower extremity of the body stick.This is effective in itself, but since it adds mass in a rearwardposition, it defeats its own purpose to a considerable extent. Thereforethe rag tails must be very long. The length supplies the desiredquantity of damping and it also isolates much of the mass of the ragtail from the dynamic system of the kite proper-long rag tails have thedisadvantage however that their air resistance is very great.

They carry the kites downwind and make high flights impossible.

. In the kite of this invention a novel tail is used as part of themeans of curing these stability and performance difculties. This noveltail is so effective that even conventional kites are able to fly muchhigher and much steadier when using it. It provides a downward andrearward pull on the rearward tip of the tail stick, always to make thekite angle upward, without introducing the undesirable dynamic effectswhich would exist if a xed weight were used on the tail for the samepurpose. This is accomplished by the ballast bag I5, remotely connectedto the tip of the tail stick by the long cord I When flight is steadythis tail exerts a steady force, but at other times the bag I is unableto follow the short quick rotations which take place about the center ofgravity of the kite proper. The action of the tail is then intermittentand delayed, but always occurring before a sufficient time interval haselapsed to permit the kite to depart very far from its equilibriumposition. Further, the aerodynamic drag of this tail is very small,enabling high fiights to be performed with ease.

The kite of this invention is better suited to the action of this noveltail than is a conventional kite because it is slower than is aconventional kite to depart from its equilibrium attitude whenrestraints are temporarily removed. This inert character is due in partto the small narrow wing. By its narrowness, .the wing closely limitsthe fore and aft extent over which the aerodynamic forces may act on thekite, and thus assures that the resultant force will always lie at ashort moment arm (in absolute dimension, not relative to chorddimension) from the center of gravity. By its small size the wingassures that the distributing force will be small. Therefore thedisturbing moments on the kite will be correspondingly small. Thesteadiness of the kite is also due in part to the nose and tail sticksextending fore and aft, and the long wings extending sideways. Theseassure large moments of inertia and cor-A responding reluctance toangular acceleration. The long wing serves in still another way bycreating a large amount of aerodynamic damping in roll. Also the wingsystem has little fore and aft camber and correspondingly littletendency to pitch. Due to these features, this kite with string tailattached is able to preserve both its equilibrium and flight eiciency instrong gusty winds.

The streamer I1 on the ballast bag I5 is used to provide a small degreeof damping of movement kof the bag I5, thereby stabilizing the kite and-8 enabling use of a shorter tail cord I4. In par.- lticular thestreamer assists in keeping the ballast weight from being thrown higherthan the kite during maneuvering flight in a gusty wind. The streamer isnot essential to satisfactory operation of the kite however, and can bereadily dispensed with if a longer tail cord I4 is provided.

The ballast bag I5 serves primarily as a convenient means for theattachment of ballast to the end of the kite tail cord. The smooth,tapered form of the bag I5 makes it less likely that the bag I5 willsnag on the ground in take-offs and offers less drag in the air. It maybe filled with varying numbers of pebbles, stones, etc., the precisenumber employed depending on the wind and height of flight desired. Asthe operator becomes skilled in flying the kite he will be able toselect the proper amount of ballast to be used, depending on the flightcharacteristic desired.

Variations in the details of construction of the invention will beapparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is to belimited in scope only as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1. A kite comprising a lifting surface, a body member carryingthe lifting surface and having a tail piece and nose piece, said tailpiece extending beyond the lifting surface for a distance greater thanthe average width of the lifting surface, said nose piece extendingforward of the lifting surface sufficient to bring the center of gravityof the kite forward at least to theregion of the center of gravity ofsaid surface, a flying cord, a bridle attached to the body member wellforward of the trailing end of the tail piece and extending below saidlifting surface, and an attachment on the bridle for connecting theflying cord thereto forward of a perpendicular through the center ofgravity of the kite. v

2. A kite comprising a lifting surface, abody member carrying thelifting surface and including a nose piece and tail piece, said tailpiece being relatively rigid and of greater length than the averagewidth of the lifting surface, said nose piece extending forward of thelifting surface to a distance sufficient to bring the center of gravityof said kite forward at least to the region ofy the center of gravity ofthe lifting surface, a single tail cord attached to the end of thetailpiece exerting a minimum of drag on the tailpiece, and a ballast bagat the end of said cord.

3. A kite comprising a lifting surface, a body member carrying thelifting surface and including a nose piece and tail piece, said tailpiece being relatively rigid and of greater length than the averagefront to rear dimension of the lifting surface, said nose pieceextending forward of the lifting surface a distance sufficient to bringthe center of gravity of said kite forward at least to the region of thecenter of gravity of the lifting surface, a tail cord attached to theend of the tail piece the cord exerting a minimum of drag on the tailpiece, a ballast bag at the end of said cord, and a streamer attached tothe end of said ballast bag.

4. A kite comprising a body member, a lifting surface on the body memberhaving an aperture therein, a flying cord attached to the body memberand a second flying cord attached to the said member and extendingthrough the aperture'in `the lifting surface for securing a second kiteboth flying cords being attached to the body member at a point forwardof a perpendicular through the center of gravity of the kite.

5. A kite comprising a body member having a tail piece, a liftingsurface on the body lmember having an aperture therein, a first flyingcord, a member on the lifting surface for attachment to the vnrst flyingcord, a second flying cord attached to said member and extending throughthe aperture in thel lifting surface for securing a second kite, a thintail cord on the tail piece, and a ballast member on the end of the tailcord. 6. A kite comprising a body' member, a lifting surface attached tosaid body member and having an aperture therein, Va 'iiying' cord, abridle below said lifting surface for `attaching the kite to the flyingcord, and a second flying cord at.- tached to, saidlbridle and extendingupward through saidaperture for carrying a second kite the ying cordattachments -being forward oflfa perpendicular throughthe center ofgravity of the kite.

7. A kite comprising a body member, a lifting surface attached to saidbody member and having a longitudinallaperture in.., the center portionthereof, a member onl the surface edges deningl said aperture tominimize wind leakage, afirst flying cord, a bridle below said surfacefor attaching the kite .to the ying cord, and a second flyingcordattached to said bridle and extending upward through said aperture inthe lifting surface for attachment to a second kite.

8. vA kite comprising a body member, a single lifting surface attachedto said body member and having a longitudinal aperture in the centerportion thereof, reinforcing members on the surface edges defining theaperture, closing members adjacent the said surface on both sides of theaperture to minimize the wind leakage through the aperture, a flyingcord, a bridle below said surface for attaching the kite to the ilyingcord., and a second flying cord attached to said bridle and extendingupward through said aperture for attachment to a Second kite.

9. A kite comprising a body member, a single lifting surface havingleading and trailing edges attached to said body member and having alongitudinal aperture in the center portion thereof, a iiying cord, abridle suspended below said lifting surface between the points on thekite where the leading and trailing edges of the lifting surfaceintersect the body member, a fixed attachment on the bridle positionedbetween the points of suspension of the bridle under the liftingsurface, for attaching said flying cord, and a second iiying cordattached to said bridle at said fixed attachment and extending upwardthrough said aperture for carrying a second kite.

10. A kite comprising a body member, a single lifting surface havingrigid leading and trailing edges and attached to said body member so asto center said lifting surface over said body member, said surfacehaving a longitudinal aperture in the center portion thereof, a flyingcord, a bridle attached to the body member below said surface forattaching the kite to the flying cord, and a second iiying cord attachedto said bridle and extending upward through said aperture in the liftingsurface for carrying a second kite.

1l. A kite comprising a body member, a single lifting surface centeredon said body member, rigid members in the leading and trailing edges ofthe lifting surface, tubular expansible joints joining the leading andtrailing edge members, said lifting surface having a longitudinalaperture in the center portion thereof, a flying cord, a bridlepositioned below said lifting surface, and a nxed attachment on thebridle to connect the I0l flying cord to the bridle forward of aperpendicular through the center of gravity of the kite,

12. A kite comprising a nose piece and a tail said nose piece extendingbeyond the leading edge of said surface to a distance sufficient tobring the center ofgravity of the kite forwardv at least to the regionof the center of gravity. of:

the lifting surface.

1s. A kite comprising a tail piece having a fori ward'end, a nosev piecehaving a slot to receive; the forward end of thetail piece, a bindingmaiz terial securing the joined ends of the nose and:A

tail pieces to form a body member, a single lift-vV ing surface havingleading and trailing edges at-v tached to said body member, said tailpiece extending to the rear of the lifting surface to a dis,- tancegreater than the average width of said sur face and said nose pieceextending beyond the y leading edge of said surface to a distancesufiiicient to bring the center of .gravity of the kite` forward atleastto theregion of the longitudinal center of the lifting surface.

14. A kite comprising a tail piece, a nose piece having a slot at therear thereof tol receive the forwardv end of the .tail piece'inlongitudinal ex,- tension of the nose piece, to form a body member;`said nose piece having a slit extending forward of said slot to allowexpansion of the nose piece defining said slot for receiving the tailpiece, a binding material clamping the ends of the nose and tail piecestogether, a single lifting surface having leading and trailing edgesattached to said body member, said tail piece extending to the rear ofthe lifting surface to a distance greater than the average width of saidsurface and said nose piece extending beyond the leading edge of saidsurface to a distance sufficient to bring the center of gravity of thekite forward at least to the region of the longitudinal center of thelifting surface.

15. A kite comprising a tail piece, a nose piece having a slot at therear thereof to receivably engage the forward end of the tail piece inlongitudinal extension to form a body member, said nose piece having anaperture disposed forward of said slot, a lifting surface having aleading edge, match angles fixed to the leading edge of the liftingsurface for insertion through the nose piece aperture, and a securingmember to bind said match angles together where they protrude throughsaid aperture, to detachably secure the leading edge of the liftingsurface to the body member.

16. A kite comprising a tail piece, a nose piece arranged inlongitudinal extension to form a body member, said nose piece having anaperture, a single lifting surface, rigid members in the lifting surfaceforming right leading and trailing edges and left leading and trailingedges, the rigid members forming said right and left trailing edgesbeing flexibly joined and attached for hinged movement on the tailpiece, a match angle fixed to the inner end of each rigid member formingthe leading edges and having an up turned extension to be insertedthrough the nose piece aperture and extend above the surface of the nosepiece, said match angles being formed at such an angle that when placedwith the up turned extensions in adjacent relationship a di- 11 hedralangle is imparted to the lifting surface, and a binding member forsecuring the upturned ends of the match angles together, said binderbeing of greater diameter than the nose piece aperture whereby theleading edge of the lifting surface is detachably secured to the bodymember.

17. In combination, a plurality of kites for night in stackedrelationship with a single ground cord, comprising a iirst kite,comprising a body member, a single lifting surface attached to said bodymember, said surface having an aperture in the center portion thereof, aground cord, a bridle below said surface for attaching the ground cordto the first kite, a second kite above the first kite and a flying cordattached to said bridle of the first kite and extending upward throughsaid aperture in the lifting surface of the first kite for attachment tothe second kite, whereby the lifting power of the second kite isimparted directly to the ground cord of the first kite.

18. A kite comprising a body member, a lifting surface having anaperture formed therein, closing members adjacent the aperture tominimize wind leakage, a flying cord in connection with the body member,and a second flying cord in connection with the first cord and extendingupwardly through the aperture for attachment to a second kite.

19. A kite comprising a body member, a lifting surface having leadingand trailing edges attached to the body member, the body memberextending rearwardly of the trailing edge of the REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,009,274 Ayling Nov. 21, 19112,023,939 Talmadge Dec. 10, 1935 2,097,538 Taylor Nov. 2, 1937 2,434,077Lang Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,952 GreatBritain of 1911 12,717 France Aug. 19, 1910 OTHER REFERENCESPublication: The Use of Kites in the Exploration of the Upper Air," byC. F. Marvin. Page 211, Figures 57 and 58,

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,562,789 July 31, 1951 RAYMOND P.HOLLAND, JR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requirlng correction as follows:

Column 1, line 26, for require read reg/aired; line 53, for receivngread receiving; column 5, line 10, for enter read center; line 21, fordesignated read designed; column 7 line 58, for distributing readdisturbing;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ooe.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of October, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patmtc.

